Downhill Both Ways

October 29, 2019

WHEN: 10/29/2019
QIC: Jinx
PAX: RG3, Cricket, Iron Lung (Respect), Bob, Paper Jam, Splashback, Brotox, Dueling Banjos, Jingles, Bright Idea

We had great numbers this morning, which we may be able to attribute to the mention of downhill running in last evening’s “@channel” blast. The reality is that it’s impossible to start and stop in the same spot and run downhill the entire way, as we came to discover. Regardless, the planned route did have some very nice downhill segments of considerable distance.

The biggest challenge with The Rabbit, or any running in F3 is holding to the tenet of “No man left behind”. The PAX did a great job of staying together today, while still getting in some solid miles and some quicker segments. The route offered opportunity for fellowship pace and for letting go of a little control to the Terra gravity assist on the downhills.

But more on that later.

Warmup

  • SSH x 20 IC
  • Butt-kickers x 20 IC
  • Squats x 20 OMD
  • Toy Soldiers x 20 IC
  • Merkins x 20 OMD
  • 30 seconds of OYO stretching/warmup

Freshly limbered up, we set our headlamps to stun, beeped and blooped our transponder devices, and embarked on a gravity-assisted jaunt.

The Main Event

In order to go downhill, it seemed we needed to first go uphill. The PAX climbed the steady incline of BC Parkway from the clubhouse to the T. Unbeknownst to all but RG3, we were starting on a super-secret segment, owned by that original. A yet unrevealed downhill .7 mile segment from the T to the traffic circle. A big challenge with running downhill is finding the balance of staying in control while still taking advantage of the lower effort required to run at a fast pace. If YHC had known he was on a new segment, the scale would have tilted toward out of control leg destruction. Good call on keeping that one a secret!

None the wiser, we regrouped at the T, made a U-turn and embarked on our first long downhill – BC parkway all the way through the traffic circle, first left after the traffic circle and around Bennett Mountain Trace all the way to Great Ridge, left on Great Ridge down to the dog park. Here we picked up the 6 (who amazingly were not far behind at all – Kudos to Paper Jam for crushing his first Rabbit, as cruel as that may sound: crushing Rabbits), regrouped again and took a chairlift (ran) back up to BC Parkway at Boulder park where we picked up the 6 and regrouped.

Our next and last long downhill segment took us around Wildwind and across to Tobacco Farm Way, an added loop on N Serenity, like an Apollo spacecraft circling the moon, and on to a safe landing at the AO with all PAX accounted for.

Throughout this downhill workout, we put our F3 names on a number of Briar Chapel Strava segments with names like: “Goin Up!”, “Climbing the Twins”, and I even managed “Climbing Tobacco”. In all, we had a net climb in 4 out of our 5 miles, but I hope the PAX would agree, that it felt like we were on mostly downhill stretches!

Mary – no time, unfortunately

COT

  • Announcements
    • Dueling Banjos, RG3, and Stinky Pete (and others) are hosting a progressive dinner on Saturday, November 16th to support the Chatham YMCA as part of their annual campaign #chatham_chatter channel for details
    • The annual holiday party is on December 22nd at the clubhouse
    • The Briar Chapel Murph will be held at 0430 on Veterans Day, November 11th – Bright Idea or #bcmurph channel for details
    • 10 mile Tuesday next Rabbit – tell your friends!
  • Name-o-Rama
    • F3 names, as well as normal person names and ages were stated, as per the usual
  • BOM
    Thank you everyone for coming out and giving me the opportunity to lead. Showing up to an F3 workout is taking a bit of a leap of faith. We do this all the time. Running downhill reminds us that you have to give up a little bit of control to run fast, or perform at a higher level. Life will put opportunities in front of us and if we give up a little control, say yes to a strange invitation, volunteer, try something new, and step out of our comfort zone we will achieve more. #livedownhill

    Aye!